By RAY STRUNK
Special to the Tribune

ELLINWOOD — The Ellinwood girls fresh off their first win of the season, kept the momentum rolling with a 43-35 Central Prairie League basketball win over LaCrosse Tuesday.
Madison Ward and Allison Panning each scored 12 points for Ellinwood (2-10, 1-2 CPL). Freshman Kennedy Harrington added eight.
The Leopards (5-8, 0-2 CPL), who were playing without senior Olivia Baus, were unable to get past Ellinwood’s balanced offensive attack and aggressive fullcourt press.
Ellinwood held a 21-16 lead at the end of the first half.
This was not unfamiliar territory for the Eagles. Multiple times this year they have held an early lead only to see it fall apart in the second half.
“We’ve been struggling on coming out in the third quarter and playing hard,” said Ellinwood head coach Andrew Cherry.
This time around, things were different.
The Eagles started the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 15-point lead.
“We’ve been practicing it. — trying to get to where we’re playing a little harder and it showed,” said Cherry.
Despite some better basketball from the Leopards in the fourth quarter, the Eagles were able to hang on for their second victory of the season.
They will be looking to carry the momentum into Friday’s matchup with the Lyons Lions.
“The girls are going to pick up some confidence,” said Cherry. “They’re ready to go out and play the next team.”
La Crosse’s Erica Gilbert scored 13 points. Addie Kershner finished with 11.
La Crosse 8 8 6 13 — 35
Ellinwood 14 7 14 8 — 43
LACROSSE—Gilbert 13, Kershner 11, K. Rues 5, Braun 2, Klozenbucker 3, E. Rues 1.
ELLINWOOD—Madison Ward 5-10 2-4 12, Allison Panning 6-11 0-0 12, Maddie Hayes 0-3 3-6 3, Kennedy Harrington 3-4 2-3 8, Brittney Beck 2-7 1-2 6, Hunter Miller 1-2 0-0 2; Kaitlyn Panning 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 17-38 8-15 43.
3-point goals—E 1-4 (Beck 1-2, Hayes 0-1, A. Panning 0-1). Rebounds—E 11 (Beck 2, A. Panning 3). Assists—E 4 (Beck 3). Steals—E 2 (A. Panning 2). TO—E 27.

CENTRAL PRAIRIE GIRLS
Otis-Bison 3-0 12-1
CPlains 2-0 10-0
St. John 2-1 6-4
Kinsley 2-1 6-5
Macksville 2-1 5-6
Ellinwood 1-2 2-10
LaCrosse 0-2 5-8
Victoria 0-2 0-13
Ness City 0-3 3-9
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Otis-Bison 34, Dighton 33
South Barber 61, Kinsley 55
Wichita Life 66, Macksville 29
Ellinwood 43, LaCrosse 35
Ellis 68, Victoria 28

OTIS-BISON (3-0, 12-1)—W Wilson 67-39; Fairfield Classic (W Stafford 69-21; W Flinthills 51-47; W Fairfield 58-26); W LaCrosse 52-47; W Stafford 57-16; W *Victoria 66-27; W *Kinsley 63-53; W *LaCrosse 44-37; Winter Jam (W Ellinwood 45-44; W LaCrosse 61-55; L Russell 34-66); W Dighton 34-33; 1-27, at Sylvan Grove; 1-31, at *Central Plains; 2-3, Meade; 2-10, *Ness City; 2-14, at *Mackville; 2-17, *Ellinwood; 2-21, *St. John

CENTRAL PLAINS (2-0, 10-0)—W Hoisington 58-22; Russell Tournament (W Lincoln 94-12; W Ellsworth 76-30; W Russell 70-34); W St. John 87-41; W Larned 62-31; W Sacred Heart 87-25; W *Macksville 72-18; W *Victoria 87-9; 1-23-27, at Barton Hilltop Classic; 1-31, *Otis-Bison; 2-3, *St. John; 2-4, at Concordia; 2-7, Plainville; 2-10, *LaCrosse; 2-14, at *Ness City; 2-17, *Kinsley; 2-21, at *Ellinwood

ST. JOHN (2-1, 6-4)—W Skyline 50-30; W Keady Classic (W Kinsley 67-56; L Kiowa Co., 32-33; W Larned 47-43); L Central Plains 41-87; L Cunningham 29-45; L *Kinsley 53-58; W *Ness City 67-45; W *Ellinwood 56-43; Hilltop Classic (W Little River 61-30, Central Plains); 1-31, Norwich; W; 2-3, *Central Plains; 2-7, at *LaCrosse; 2-10, at *Victoria; 2-14, at South Central; 2-17, *Macksville; 2-21, at *Otis-Bison; 2-23, at Cimarron

KINSLEY (2-1, 6-5)—L Sublette 57-69; Keady Classic (L St. John 56-67; W Macksville 51-26; W Hoisington 52-35) W Skyline 70-30; W Ness City 43-33; W *St. John 57-13; W Cunningham 47-41; L *Otis-Bison 53-63; L Kiowa Co. 34-46; 54 Classic (L So. Barber 55-61; PPrairie); 1-31, South Central; 2-3, Spearville; 2-7, *Macksville; 2-10, at *Ellinwood; 2-14, *Victoria; 2-17, at *Central Plains; 2-21, at *LaCrosse

MACKSVILLE (2-1, 5-6)—W *Ness City 44-29; Keady Classic (L Kiowa Co. 23-37; L Kinsley 28-51; W Ellinwood 52-36); W Stafford 62-42; L Cunningham 26-39; L *Central Plains 18-72; L *LaCrosse 41-55; W *Ellinwood 54-33; W Pratt 47-45; Hilltop Classic (L Life Prep 29-66; Ell-Saline); 1-31, *LaCrosse; 2-3, *Victoria; 2-7, at *Kinsley; 2-10, Fowler; 2-14, *Otis-Bison; 2-17, at *St. John; 2-21, at Hodgeman County

ELLINWOOD (1-2, 2-10)—L Russell 63-47; Keady Classic (L Spearville 38-48; L Larned 56-46; L Kiowa Co. 54-61); L Ell-Saline 58-56; L Ellis 50-53; L *St. John 43-56; L *Macksville 33-54; Cardinal WinterJam (L Otis-Bison 44-45; L Hoisington 32-38; W Victoria 45-13); W *LaCrosse 43-35; 1-27, at Lyons; 1-31, *Victoria; 2-3, Haven; 2-7, at *Ness City; 2-10, *Kinsley; 2-14, at Plainville; 2-17, at *Otis-Bison; 2-23, *Central Plains

LACROSSE (0-2, 5-8)—L Kiowa Co. 43-68; Trego Tournament (W Trego 59-49; W No. Valley 48-41; L Stockton 32-67); L Dighton 59-29; L Otis-Bison 52-55; W Western Plains; W Macksville 55-41; L *Otis-Bison 37-44; Winter Jam (W HHS 58-46; L Otis-Bison 55-61; L Ellsworth 36-48); L *Ellinwood 35-43; 1-27, *Victoria; 1-31, at *Macksville; 2-3, at *Ness City; 2-7, *St. John; 2-10, at *Central Plains; 2-14, Stockton; 2-21, *Kinsley

VICTORIA (0-2, 0-13)—L Hoxie 20-85; Trego Tournament (L Oakley 8-41; L Hodgeman Co. 21-52; L Trego 15-49) L TMP 18-67; L Plainville 18-53; L *Otis-Bison 27-66; L Stockton 22-80; L *Central Plains 9-87; Winter Jam (L Ellsworth 19-54; L Minn. 29-41; L Ellinwood 13-45); L Ellis 28-68; 1-27, *LaCrosse; 1-31, *Ellinwood; 2-3, *Macksville; 2-10, *St. John; 2-14, *Kinsley; 2-17, at *Ness City; 2-21, Osborne

NESS CITY (0-3, 3-9)—L *Macksville 29-44; Trego Tournament (L No. Valley 35-38; W Trego 60-54; W Hodgeman Co. 52-44); L Hodgeman Co. 52-55; L *Kinsley 33-43; L Ellis 46-48; L *St. John 45-67; L Spearville 47-51; L Trego 47-52; (L Central Plains 30-81; W Little River 56-44); 1-31, at Hill City; 2-3, *LaCrosse; 2-7, *Ellinwood; 2-10, at *Otis-Bison; 2-14, *Central Plains; 2-17, *Victoria; 2-21, at Dighton